Rail-scapes...
This is an experiment! Whilst I don't envisage retiring on the advertising revenue of YouTube anytime soon these latest 'uploads' are not about chasing viewing numbers - in fact I suspect many won't get them at all - but for me, they're calming background noise and so from me, to you, now available as the ambience to your workshop or office (or even headphones)...
Rail-scapes are soundscapes, not of nature but of trains. Nothing jarring nor any surprises - gentle journeys of the everyday. Exhaust, background chat, distant horns and all - perhaps, if you're lucky, a bit of nature... recorded on my iPhone and the only editing is to add text and an image so they work on YouTube as videos...
As I say - these are an experiment. I enjoyed making them, and I enjoy listening to them - in the meantime, I'm even to know if you enjoy them at all - and do you have any ideas on how we could grow the movement? Perhaps we could all begin to upload 'Rail-scapes' from our own experiences?
In future - I'll be adding them to my 'Rail-scapes' playlist. If you do have any to share, let me have the link and I'll add them to the playlist as well!
Until next time, more soon...
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As you say, not everyone will get this...but the idea reminds me of the cassettes you used to be able to buy in the 80s and 90s of various trains at work, though they were mostly from outside rather than on-board the trains...no narration, the track info was on the inlay card.
ReplyDeleteI had a listen to the Pacer earlier, very evocative of the times I rode them out from Wigan Wallgate to 009 gatherings at Rainford; door bleepers, flanges squealing and various rattles and lurches!
Thanks Simon - yes I remember those, seeing old LPs in charity coaches on preserved railways too even recently!
DeleteI shall give those a try. I notice that many of your daily blogs and the three books speak of inspiration, a moment that leads to an idea, a cameo or a layout. I came across such a thing on BBC iPlayer recently so just in case you have not seen it it is called "Let's imagine- A branch-line railway" narrated by John Betjeman. It's in black & white and features the old S&D line in the Highbridge and Somerset Levels area. Superb glimpses of rusty overgrown rails, elderly creaking wagons and all kinds of infrastructure in a sad state of disrepair. The editing is rather clumsy but as it was obviously shot on film that's not surprising. So if you have already seen it then apologies, but if you have not then it's worth thirty minutes with a cuppa and a biscuit.
ReplyDeleteYes I’m familiar with that film, I’m glad you found it inspiring…
DeleteFor me it’s always a blend of personal experience that resonates through found images that spark new projects.
Definitely an interesting idea James. I'm not familiar with either Pacers or class 127 DMUs but the flange squeals and other railway sounds are so evocative. The sound of a Class 33 ticking over would immediately take me back to Portsmouth harbour station in the early to mid 1980's and my childhood trips to see my grandparents in Somerset. A bag of jelly tots sweets in hand... Funny the things that take you back in time.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should add idling diesels to the Rail-scapes too… I’m sure I’ve got one of 5310 here on the railway from last year!
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